Algerian Wildfires Claim 12 Lives Amid Record Heatwave
Civil protection crews fought blazes that spread across the northern provinces of Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou, killing five, four and three people respectively.
Across the country, firefighters battled 69 separate fires, while dozens of residents were evacuated from homes and local businesses. In Bejaia and Jijel, many families took refuge in public buildings, including post offices, as smoke thickened the air.
The Interior Minister travelled to Bejaia with the Health Minister to assess local firefighting and evacuation efforts, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
Health officials have treated 54 burn victims, six of whom required intensive care. The tragedy echoes a previous 30‑person loss during a severe fire five years ago in the same region.
Algeria’s summer fire season is increasingly severe, driven by higher temperatures, reduced rainfall, and longer dry periods. The World Meteorological Organization reports that North Africa has experienced the fastest rise in temperature among African subregions, a trend linked to climate change.
The heat has also triggered a spike in camel deaths during the season, according to recent studies, further stressing the ecological impacts of extreme temperatures.
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